Electronics
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Advanced Electronics. Built In House.
To save on costs and complexity, we built our own data collection and actuation system for our engine testing setup. This enables us to collect the data we need. We can therefore rapidly improve our engine designs!
Actuation and DAQ in a box
Our first attempt at data collection
Opens and closes valves
Actuation and DAQ in a box
Rocket Controls
To design robust backbones for rocket controls, we came up with flexible communication network for various systems that onboard the rocket. We created a unified 48V power bus, and decided to use EPC Co.'s GaN FET technology in several high-current DC/DC converters. We were also inspired by the Controller Area Network (CAN) interface used in cars and some avionics systems, which allows multiple devices to interact and exchange data over just one wire pair. We implemented its best version to our system.
The Capfill
The Capfill, a capacitive liquid level sensor, is the electronics team's most anticipated project and is in rapid development. We wanted a contactless method to measure the flow rate of our cryogenic liquid fuels, and came across a unique method to measure the fill level directly. It involves measuring the capacitance between two parallel, coplanar strips of conductive tape on the outside of a tank as it varies with the fluid level inside the tank.
(Photo credit to Texas Instruments)
Pump Electronics
Power electronics are what make our rocket's fuel pumps possible. We acquired two of the biggest motor-ESC packages from our beloved sponsor Castle Creations, as well as a separate LiPo battery with a high C rate, just to run the pumps turbines at the sustained power levels and speeds it needs.
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